Orthopedic shoe



Feb. 16, 1932. s. v. ARTHUR 1,845,031

ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Filed 001:. 2. 1950 s-sneets-sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1932. G.v. ARTHUR ORTHQPEDIC SHOE Filed Oct. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 31weutorVfir-Zhur (Ittomeg Feb. 16, 1932. I av. ARTHUR 1,845,031

ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Filed Oct. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Isnventor v GttornegPatented Feb. 16, 1 932 "PATENT OFFICE GILBERT V. ARTHUR, OF HOTSPRINGS, VIRGINIA OI RTHOPEDIC SHOE Application fi1ed'0ctober2, 1930.Serial- No. 485,983.

This invention relates to orthopedic devices in the nature of a shoe forcorrecting fallen arches, and has for its object to provide aconstruction which is simple in parts and more eflicient in use thanthose heretofore proposed. t

, With these and other objects in view'the' invention resides in thenovel details of con-' struction and combinations of parts as will bedisclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the'accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification and in which like numerals designate like parts in 1 allthe views, I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe to which this invention hasbeen applied;

Fig. 2 is atop plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional View somewhatdiagrammatic to illustrate the inner sole construction and the heelstraps;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken as on the line H of Fig. 2and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a somewhatdiagrammatic bottom plan of a shoe made in accordance with thisinvention and particularly illustrating the securement of the side andheel straps to the sole and indicating the position of the ridge formedin connection with the inner sole;

Fig. 6 is a perspective diagram illustratin the assembly of the side andheel straps; ig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but illustratinga slight modification of construction of the sidestraps;

Fig. 8 is a partial transverse sectional view taken as on the line 88 ofFig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig. 9 is a partial top plan. view of a shoe showing a modification ofconstruction wherein the heel straps are omitted;

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken through the buckle of Fig. 9,as on the line 1010 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;and

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a shoe to which a modified form ofconstruction of the side and heel straps has been applied.

pass entirely through the buckle and to per- Heretofore many deviceshave been proposed for the aid of fallen arches most of which havecomprised bandages or the like to be applied to the foot prior toputting on the shoe, but such bandages either created such addedthickness of material that it was difficult to put on a shoe, or therewould be such thickness of material between thev foot and the shoe thatmuch discomfort would result. Other known devices have comprised shoeattachments which, however, are only supports and do not brace theligaments of the foot to produce remedial effects. This invention isdirected to a shoe having built therein a construction accomplishing thepurpose of said bandages in that remedial relief instead of temporaryrelief is given to the fallen arch. Further such a shoe as now to bedisclosed is not unsightly but is so constructed that the fallen arch ofthe foot in that there is provided the usual heel 1,'

sole 2, forward upper or vamp 3, sides or quarters 4, and lacin 5, butthe sole 2, particularly at the are or shank 6 is. made more thanusually flexible as by the use of soft leather or the like. Referringparticularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 such a shoe has exteriorly appliedthereto a pair of short side straps-.7 and S'each of tapering widthwhereby there is produced a relatively'wide end 5 such as 9, which maybe stitched as at 10 between the sole and the upper, and a relativelynarrow end that may be readily passed through a buckle generallyindicated by the numeral 11, the smaller free, ends of saidstraps beingpassed through the buckle from opposite sides as will be readilyunderstood. Each of these straps is of sufficient length to mit theextreme ends being grasped and pulled to create a tension across theforward part of the foot when it is in the shoe.

The buckle 11 maybe of any suitable type, there being illustrated adevice comprisinga. base plate 12 having secured thereto a pair ofclamping members 13 and 14 each of which latter has means such as teeth15 to engage the ends of the straps/7 and 8 and hold them in adjustedand tensioned position.

The clamping members may be hinged to the base member and, instead ofthe teeth 15, be provided with any other suitable means for wedging orotherwise securing the ends of the straps.

A pair of heel straps is provided with one end of each strap rigidlysecured to the sole of the shoe and the free ends adapted for engagementwith the buckle 11. That is to say, there is a strap 20 one end of whichis stitched as at 22 to the sole, said strap being of a length to passback of the heel of the foot and forwardly on the opposite side of theshoe to engage the member 13 of the buckle 11 (see Fig. 6). Then thereis a second strap 21 one end of which is sewed as at 23 to the sole,said strap being of a length to pass back of the heel of the foot(crossing the other strap 20) and thence forwardly havingits other freeend engaged by the member 14 of said buckle, the engagement of the freeends with the buckle being accomplished in any convenient manner such asby the serrated edge 24 of each of the members 13 and 14, or by othersuitable Wedging or clamping action. Preferably the straps 20 and 21 assthrough a tunnel formed at the rear 0 the shoe by slitting the leather'lining and providing limiting stitching 25 or the like so that thestraps will not come in direct contact with the foot as will be readilyunderstood from Fig. 3. According to this preferred form of theinvention, the side straps 7 and 8 are disposed exteriorly of the shoebut the heel straps 20 and 21 are disposed within theishoe, the forwardends of the latter passing through suitable slots in the upper 3 so thatsaid ends may be en gaged by the buckle 11.

The inner sole 27 is secured to the main sole 2 at a single line oftransverse stitching 28 at the junction of the sole with the arch orshank of the shoe as will be clear from Figs. 3 and 5. The inner sole isprovided with a ridge 29 extending upwardly to substantially fit thespace between the ball of the foot and the pads of the toes, said ridgebeing slightly curved as shown in Fig. 5 for this purpose. The ridge maybe formed in any convenient manner but is shown in Fig. 3 as created bya wedge 30 disposed be tween the inner and main soles.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a modified form ofconstruction wherein the heel straps 20 and 21 are provided as hereinbefore described, but the side straps are aplied to the shoe in adifferent manner whereby said latter straps are partly inside and partlyoutside of the shoe. In other words, each of the side straps has itslarger porton portion 36 being passed through a slot such as 37 in theupper 3 to be enga ed exteriorly of the shoe by the buckle 11. Lines ofstitching 38 secure the portion 35 to the upper 3.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is illustrated a modified form of construction whereinthe heel straps 20 and 21 are omitted and therefore the buckle 11 issecured as by the stitching 40 directly to the upper 3, the buckleotherwise being. substantially the same as hereinbefore describedbutadapted to hold only the free ends of the side straps 7 and 8.

The modification shown in Fig. 11 provides the heel straps which,however, are applied exteriorly of the shoe but otherwise similarlyformed to the straps 20 and 21. Instead of the interior tunnel or guideformed as hereinbefore mentioned, there is provided an exterior tunnelor guide formed by an extra piece of leather 41 stitched along its upperand lower edges to the outside of the back of the shoe. Also, the sidestraps 7 and 8 have been materially shortened. That is to say, insteadof the strap 8 as shown in Fig. 2 there is provided a strap 42, theenlarged end of which is secured as by the stitching 43 at apointsubstantially half way from the buckle 11 to the sole wherebsubstantially the same physical effect is o tained with a saving ofstrap material, and the resultant construction will be of pleasantappearance in its simulation of a bow. Thenarrowed portion of eachtapered strap constituting a tongue is engaged by the buckle in the samemanner as the corresponding tongue portions of the straps shown in theother figures of drawings.

Other modifications of the invention will be apparent without particularillustrations, such as the provision of theshort side straps 42exteriorly of the shoe and the heel straps 20 and 21 disposed interiorlythereof. Further, the constructions shown in FiguresS and 11 may besomewhat combined; that is the members 35 and 36 may be separate andsecured together and to the upper 3 by a line of stitching as shown at43 thus eliminating the slots 37 in said upper. Also the side straps andthe heel straps may be manufactured and sold separately from the shoe sothat said straps could be sewed to any type of shoe by a competent shoerepair man, and obviously the double heel straps could be replaced by asingle strap.

In application the foot is placed within the shoe, the side straps aswell as the heel straps are then pulled to create considerable tension,and then the adjusted and tensioned straps are secured b the buckle 11.The side straps press the oot to transversely arch the, bony structurethereof, and the heel straps coupled with the ridge 29 of the inner solepossess the faculty of creating a longitudinal tension on the foot toraise the me- \35 35 disposed interiorly of the shoe, the smaller dialarch thereof. Thiis it will be seen that by this invention the foot issubjected to remedial treatment while confined in a sub stantiallyordinary appearing shoe without any additional thicknesses of a bandageor the like interposed between the foot and the shoe. Further, exceptfor the flexible arch which is built in the specially prepared shoe, itis not necessary to purchase a special shoe, since the straps may besupplied independently for application to the style of shoes worn by thesufi'erer, and in this connection said straps can be applied to theshoes already possessed by the patient.

Fallen archs need not be braced at all times, but they should be bracedwhen the muscles have become fatigued, and since this time will vary inmost all cases it will be apparent that a shoe to which this inventionhas been applied will have particular advantage over bandages which arenot readily accessible, especially in view of the fact that the side andheel straps may be relieved of their tension through the buckle or othersecuring means. For example, the straps may be tightened in the earlymorning when strains are placed upon the foot, then they may be loosenedduring the middle of the day or lunch period, and again tightened afterlunch. In other words, the straps may be loosened at times of-the daywhen no strains are on the foot thus providing rest for the foot as wellas relief from the tension of the straps. Further, thetension on thestraps is easily varied whereby the ten: sion may be made in accordancewith the strainv to which the foot is subjected during different stagesof work performed by the patient.

It is to be particularly observed'that the side straps are providedatthe correct positions on the shoe to exert, when under tension, a forcewhich will transversely arch the foot at the base of the toes, therebyraising the transverse arch of the foot. In shoes provided with lacing,the lacing is positioned at the instep which is too far rearward of thefoot to accomplish this remedial action on the transverse arch, eveninshoesas illustrated with the blucher construction. The side straps maybe suflicient for some foot ailments but it is found more beneficial touse the additional heel straps which are of special use in bracing themedial arch. It is obvious that those skilled in as arrangements ofparts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and thereforeit is not desired to be limited to-the foregoing except as may berequired by the claims.

What is claimed is V 1. An orthopedic device comprising a pair ofopposed straps disposed on a shoe forward of the lacing; a heel strapsecured at one end "to the sole of the sl ce; and means engaging the art-may vary the details of construction as, well the free ends of all ofsaid straps for holding the same under tension.

2. An orthopedic device comprising a pair of opposed straps disposed ona shoe forward of the lacing, each strap secured at one end to the upperof said shoe; a heel strap secured at one end to the sole of the shoeand extending along both sides of the shoe; and means disposed forwardof the lacing and engaging the free ends of all of said straps forholding the same under tension.

3. An orthopedic device comprisin a pair of opposed straps disposedexterior y of a shoe forward of the lacing; a heel strap secured at oneend to the sole of the shoe and extending interiorly along .both sidesof the shoe with the free end of the heel strap passing through a slotin the shoe upper adjacent said pair of straps; and means engaging thefree ends of all of said straps for holding the same under tension; I

4. An orthopedic device comprisin a pair of opposed straps disposed on ashoe orward of the lacing; a pair of heel straps each secured at one endto the sole of the shoe, and each extending along both sides of theshoe, each crossing the other strap in a tunnel formed at the back ofthe shoe, the free ends of said straps terminating adjacent the firstmentioned pair of straps; and means engaging the free ends of all ofsaid straps for holding the same under tension.

5. An attachment for a shoe comprising a plurality of straps two ofwhich are adapted to be secured at their outermost ends 'to a shoe intransverse relation thereto, the re mainder of said plurality of strapshaving an end adapted to be secured to the shoe and passing around theheel of a foot to form a longitudinally extending loop with the freestrap end terminating adjacent the trans verse straps; and a fastenersecuring the in nermost ends of the transverse straps as well as thefree end of the heel strap.

6. An attachment for a shoe comprising a plurality of straps two ofwhich are tapered mainder of said plurality of straps having an endadapted to be secured to the shoe and passing around the back of a footto form a longitudinally extending loop with the free strap endterminating adjacent the tongues of the transverse straps; and afastener securing the tongues of the transverse straps as well as thefree end of the heel strap in crossed relation;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. GILBERT V. ARTHUR.

